One week later Devastating earthquake in central Japanat least the one who left 168 deadIt is known that the number of The number of casualties rises to at least 300The search for victims and efforts to assist those affected continue to be hampered by snow and damaged roads.
This Monday, local authorities presented the latest confirmed data on deaths. earthquake magnitude 7.6 The incident that hit Ishikawa Prefecture announced that 323 more people were missing due to the disaster.
Most of the deaths occurred in the towns of Wajima and Suzu, where search and rescue efforts were also concentrated. More than 500 people suffered varying degrees of injuries. The most devastating earthquake of the last decade occurred in Japan.
Snow and closed roads
Land access to the north of the Noto peninsula, the area most affected by the earthquake, was virtually blocked. lots of road closures damaged by earthquakes or rockfalls, avalanches or falling poles, buildings and other infrastructure. Added to this is a cold front that leaves temperatures below zero. Up to 13 centimeters of snowfall in the regionThis makes vehicle traffic even more difficult, increasing the risk of new collapses or landslides in earthquake-damaged buildings or, in some cases, increasing the risk of hypothermia for people in homes or shelters without electricity or water.
Also in recent days earthquake aftershocks The tremors, some of which were greater than magnitude 5, with the epicenter also in the Noto region, combined with adverse weather conditions, caused new land displacements and further damage to buildings or transportation routes.
Ministry of Transport announced It is not yet known when traffic can resume normally. This situation on the main access roads to Noto has led some experts to criticize the authorities’ delay in repairing basic infrastructure to provide essential supplies to those affected and facilitate rescue missions.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said the other day: “Everything possible” will be done to help people in “large isolated areas”The Japan Self-Defense Forces (Army) said measures such as access on foot or by helicopter were being considered. Kishida also announced that the earthquake that occurred in central Japan will be defined as an “extraordinary disaster” and that those affected by this earthquake will be allowed special administrative treatment when requesting assistance or any procedures.
Reception of refugees
nails 28,000 people are sheltered in temporary evacuation centerswhile there was about 15,000 homes without power and more than 14,000 without electricity. It is also estimated that more than 2,000 people in Ishikawa remain isolated in 24 locations due to damage to roads and paths.
This led regional authorities to set up a new evacuation center in a public gymnasium in the city of Kanazawa. 200 tents Starting this Tuesday, we will begin welcoming seniors, pregnant women and other people with special needs. The Central Government has also asked traditional hotels and hostels in the region to offer temporary accommodation to the refugees, and victims in more at-risk situations are expected to be transferred there in the coming days.
The earthquake has already happened last Monday. Deadliest incident in Japan since 2011A 9-degree earthquake caused a tsunami that killed more than 20,000 people and caused the Fukushima nuclear disaster, the worst since Chernobyl (Ukraine) in 1986.